My God! The Democratic radio address...

[stevedeshazer]

Delivered by Iraq war veteran Paul Rieckhoff...very powerful stuff.

<snip>

I'm giving this address because I have an agenda, and my agenda is this: I want my fellow soldiers to come home safely, and I want a better future for the people of Iraq. I also want people to know the truth.

War is never easy. But I went to Iraq because I made a commitment to my country. When I volunteered for duty, I knew I would end up in Baghdad. I knew that's where the action would be, and I was ready for it.

But when we got to Baghdad, we soon found out that the people who planned this war were not ready for us. There were not enough vehicles, not enough ammunition, not enough medical supplies, not enough water. Many days, we patrolled the streets of Baghdad in 120 degree heat with only one bottle of water per soldier. There was not enough body armor, leaving my men to dodge bullets with Vietnam-era flak vests. We had to write home and ask for batteries to be included in our care packages. Our soldiers deserved better.

When Baghdad fell, we soon found out that the people who planned this war were not ready for that day either. Adamiyah, the area in Baghdad we had been assigned to, was certainly not stable. The Iraqi people continued to suffer. And we dealt with shootings, killings, kidnappings, and robberies for most of the spring.

We waited for troops to fill the city and military police to line the streets. We waited for foreign aid to start streaming in by the truckload. We waited for interpreters to show up and supply lines to get fixed. We waited for more water. We waited and we waited and the attacks on my men continued...and increased.

and SO much more... http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=103-05012004

[codegreen]

1. i REALLY wish i could HEAR this...

[stevedeshazer]

9. I can't find audio either n/t

[mike_c]

2. wow!

That is powerful!

[grasswire]

3. peeling off the military vote

I saw a segment on CNN a few minutes ago that said just that -- that Bush can't count on the solid vote of the military. They then interviewed a veteran who is running for Congress and who is furious about the inadequate preparation and supplies our military is enduring at Bush's hands.

[dogman]

4. I think we have real potential

with soldiers like this and Generals like Odom and Clark speaking out to wake these men up. hopefully their friends and family will see the truth before we have four more years of illegitimate wars.

[bluedeminredstate]

5. Holy Sh*t!!!

If the press doesn't run with this it will be one more piece of evidence that they're campainging for Dumbo.
This is BIG!!! And it's relevant to what's been in the news lately about the troops not being fully prepared by the planners.
This better be on MTP tomorrow, Hardball on Monday, and every CNN talkfest for the next three days (with the exception of Judy Woodruff since we know she'd never let the Democrats be heard in any fashion).
Who wants to bet I'll be disappointed?

[stevedeshazer]

11. We can dream, can't we?

No one I can find has the audio of this. Of course, the Chimp's unfocused tirade is already up on the White House site.

Don't the Democrats want to get this out? :grr:

[Tatiana]

6. Powerful, powerful stuff.

"Our platoon had been away from their families for seven months. Two babies had been born. Three wives had filed for divorce and a fiancie sent a ring back to a kid in Baghdad. 39 men missed their homes. And they wouldn't see their homes for another eight months."

[TeeYiYi]

7. Gawd. What the hell . . .

. . . is going on over there? That description of waiting — right after the fall of Baghdad was chilling. It makes me want to SCREAM. We've all known (here at DU) that our soldiers didn't have what they need over there, but that . . . THAT was RIDICULOUS. At least the truth is finally coming out . . . in trickles. But it's coming out. :grr:
Aaaaargh. Those poor kids. :argh:

TYY

[trof]

8. Many thanks Stevie D.

Excellent.

[joanski01]

10. I'll bet one of the Democratic

Senators will read some of this on the Senate Floor Monday or Tuesday, and have it inserted in the record.

Thanks so much for posting this.

[proud patriot]

12. I'm crying

:cry: No words , just that I support everthing this
soldier said :cry:

We need a leader Capable of solving this huge
problem , and bush is not that Capable Leader.

bush $$$$profits$$$$ off war , thus his agenda is to
create Chaos .

:mad:TRAITORS:mad:

[berry]

13. C-Span is rebroadcasting BUSH*'s radio address at 6:47 pm tonight

but NOT the Democratic address!! How dare they??? Not even the APPEARANCE of the much vaunted "balance"... Time to write to them again.

[stevedeshazer]

15. That's not what really bugs me

What bugs me is that NO Democratic Party site has the audio. How the hell can they expect the message to get out if they only make a transcript available?

[Bullshot]

14. Throughout the Clinton presidency

we kept hearing how the Republicans are more astute at national defense, military and foreign policy matters. In my entire life, I've never seen EVERYTHING as messed up as they are now, with the Republicans running the U.S. House, Senate and the White House, along with the majority of governors of the 50 states.

I think Republicans would screw up a wet dream!